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<br />W AIS Document Retrieval <br /> <br />002699 <br /> <br />has resulted in significant restoration of riparian habitats and <br />increased populations of bird species associated with riparian habitat, <br />including the willow flycatcher. The Forest Service, in cooperation <br />with others, is monitoring the southwestern willow flycatcher <br />population on the San Luis Rey River on Forest Service lands, and has <br />an on-going brown-headed cowbird trapping program on the San Luis Rey <br />River and other streams within the Cleveland National Forest. As <br />mitigation for other projects impacting riparian habitats, the Bureau <br />of Reclamation is engaged in a cowbird management program and riparian <br />habitat restoration projects in several areas in the range of Empidonax <br />traillii extimus, including some historical nesting locations. Riparian <br />habitat rehabilitation is also underway at several National Wildlife <br />Refuges in the breeding range of E. t. extimus, - which are managed by - <br />the Service. Grand Canyon National Park has instituted a seasonal <br />recreation closure at the remaining site with nesting willow <br />flycatchers in the Grand Canyon. <br />In addition to conservation on Federal lands, in 1991, the State of <br />California established the Natural Communities Conservation Planning <br />{NCCP} Program to address conservation needs of natural ecosystems <br />throughout the State. The Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) <br />in southwestern San Diego County is one of the first subregional plans <br />under the NCCP to be developed. The MSCP planning area consists of 12 <br />Jurisdictions and several water districts, each of which will develop <br />subarea plans to implement the MSCP within their boundaries. The City <br />of San Diego has approved the MSCP and finalized their subarea plan. <br />The remaining jurisdictions and the Otay Water District are expected to <br />finalize their subarea plans within the near future. <br />The southwestern willow flycatcher is considered a covered species <br />under the MSCP based on the proposed level of conservation. The MSCP <br />will preserve over 9,000 acres or 75 percent of the remaining riparian <br />habitats within the planning boundary. Impacts to riparian areas <br />outside of the preserve will be avoided, minimized, and mitigated under <br />local guidelines and ordinances, and existing State and Federal wetland <br />regulations. Thus, no net loss of acreage of riparian habitat is <br />proposed within the MSCP, and no additional restrictions are <br />anticipated as a result of critical habitat designation. <br />All of the designated critical habitat for the southwestern willow <br />flycatcher along the San Dieguito, San Diego, and Tijuana Rivers will <br />be conserved and managed within the MSCP preserve system. The MSCP <br />assures permittees that compliance with the Federal policy of "no net <br />loss" of wetland functions and values, the U.S. Environmental <br />Protection Agency's section 404{b} {1} guidelines, and the requirements <br />of the MSCP and local subarea plan will constitute the full extent of <br />mitigation measures directed specifically at the incidental take of <br />covered species recommended by the Service pursuant to the Act and the <br />National Environmental Policy Act. In addition, the Service has agreed <br />that, if the subarea plans for each jurisdiction under the MSCP are <br />properly functioning, the Service will not require that permittees or <br />third party beneficiaries commit additional land, additional land <br />restrictions, or additional financial compensation beyond that provided <br />in each implementing agreement should critical habitat for a covered <br />species be designated. <br />The approved NCCP/Habitat Conservation Plan for the Central and <br />Coastal Subregions of Orange County, California, provides benefits to <br />the southwestern willow flycatcher. The plan establishes an <br />approximately 37,300-acre nature preserve and requires surveys for the <br />southwestern willow flycatcher to ensure that occupied habitat with <br />potentially significant long-term conservation value will be conserved. <br />The adaptive management program for the preserve includes monitoring, <br />cowbird control, and habitat enhancement measures for the flycatcher. <br />Again, the Service anticipates that no additional restrictions will <br />apply to activities undertaken in accordance with the <br /> <br />[[Page 39135]] <br /> <br />Tuesday, July 22, 1997 <br /> <br />Page 10 of21 <br /> <br />2:0S PM <br />